Backyard Chickens in Mesa, Arizona

Can you keep chickens in Mesa?

Thinking about starting a flock in Mesa? The good news is that the City of Mesa is one of the more chicken-friendly cities in the Phoenix metro — hens (and even a well-behaved rooster) are welcome on most residential lots, as long as you keep the numbers and setbacks within code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Mesa, Arizona expressly allows backyard poultry. Under Mesa City Code § 8-6-21, a total of 10 fowl, including rabbits, are allowed on lots less than ½ acre (21,780 sq ft). Roosters are only allowed if they do not create a noise disturbance, and if a noise disturbance occurs, they must be removed to avoid a citation. Larger lots may keep more birds on a scaled point system, and for areas larger than two and one-half (2½) acres, the number of such rodents and fowl shall not be limited.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 10
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 40 ft.

Peggy knows Mesa

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Mesa regulates 'fowl' broadly to include chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, peacocks, pheasants and turkeys, lumping them together with pet rodents (rabbits) for purposes of the numeric cap. On the most common residential lot size (under ½ acre), the flock/coop rules are:

Flock cap: Up to 10 total fowl and/or rabbits combined on lots under ½ acre, with additional animals permitted as lot size increases up to 2.5 acres, above which there is no numeric limit (MCC 8-6-21).
Setbacks: A secondary source citing MCC 8-6-21.A, D, E, F states that you may have up to 10 chickens on the first one-half acre or less provided any enclosure is at least 40 feet from any neighboring residence, any coop is at least 75 feet from any other residence, it is kept sanitary and they are not allowed to run loose or create a noise disturbance.
Roosters: A rooster is also allowed as long as it does not violate any of the above regulations. The City's own guidance confirms roosters are permitted unless they create a noise disturbance, in which case they must be removed.
Containment/Sanitation: The City directs residents to MCC 8-6-21(G) & (H) for containment-area distance restrictions and requires fowl to be kept sanitary and confined to the owner's property.
Livestock note: True livestock (horses, goats, large flightless birds, etc.) require a minimum 35,000 sq ft lot and a separate point-system calculation — this does not apply to ordinary backyard chickens.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Mesa

🌡️ Climate

Hot Desert (Köppen BWh) — USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b

Mesa sits in the Sonoran Desert with extremely hot, dry summers (often exceeding 110°F) and mild, sunny winters. Chicken keepers need to prioritize shade, ventilation, and constant water access in summer, while winter cold is rarely a concern.

🦝 Who's after your hens

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Mesa's desert-edge neighborhoods back up to washes and open desert, so coyotes, hawks (including red-tailed and Cooper's hawks), bobcats, and rattlesnakes are all realistic threats to a backyard flock. Secure, covered runs and hardware-cloth (not chicken wire) enclosures are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Heat-tolerant breeds such as Leghorns, Easter Eggers, Barred Rocks, Australorps, and Egyptian Fayoumis do well in Mesa's desert climate.

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Mesa

▸How many chickens can I keep in Mesa?

On a typical lot under ½ acre, you may keep up to 10 fowl total (chickens count together with rabbits and other listed fowl toward this cap). Larger lots, up to 2.5 acres, get proportionally more under the City's point system, and lots over 2.5 acres have no set numeric limit.

▸Are roosters allowed in Mesa?

Yes, conditionally. Mesa does not ban roosters outright, but a rooster (or any fowl) that creates a noise disturbance must be removed to avoid a citation.

▸Do I need a permit to keep backyard chickens in Mesa?

No standard permit is required for ordinary backyard chicken-keeping on residential lots under Mesa City Code § 8-6-21. (Note: true livestock on larger acreage may involve separate zoning considerations.)

▸How far must my coop be from my neighbor's house?

Per the code referenced setback guidance, coops should be kept a good distance from neighboring residences — commonly cited figures are roughly 40 feet for the enclosure and 75 feet for the coop structure itself from any other residence, though residents should confirm exact figures in MCC 8-6-21(G)&(H).

▸Can my HOA override the city's chicken rules?

Yes. Even though the City permits backyard chickens, a homeowners' association's CC&Rs can impose stricter private restrictions (including outright bans), and those private covenants are generally enforceable independent of city code.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Mesa or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 3, 2026.